rimanere di sasso

/riˈmaːnere di ˈsasso/
idiom★Intermediate— to be shocked or stunned◆idiom
◆ What It Really Means
To be so surprised or shocked that one is momentarily speechless or immobile.
Literal Meaning
To remain as stone.
Literal Breakdown
rimanereto remain+diof+sassostone
◇ Mental Image
The mental image is of someone being so shocked that they become as still and unyielding as a stone.
◈ When to Use
Imagine someone telling you a shocking piece of news, and you are so taken aback that you can't move or speak for a moment.
◉ Cultural Note
This idiom is widely used in Italian to describe a strong emotional reaction to unexpected events, similar to the English 'to be stunned' or 'to be shocked.'
informal

To be completely shocked or stunned by something unexpected or surprising.

La sua reazione mi ha lasciato di sasso.

His reaction left me stunned.

Rimase di sasso quando vide il risultato del test.

He was shocked when he saw the test results.

📖Word Origin

The phrase comes from the idea of being so shocked that one feels as if turned to stone (sasso).

📝Usage Notes

This idiom is commonly used in informal contexts to express strong surprise or shock.

Dizionario Italiano-Inglese